Acreage: 0.29
Category: National Historic Site
Date Established:
04/14/1965
In the heart of the District of Columbia is one of America’s most renowned theatres, famous for its connection to the legacy of Abraham Lincoln. It was in this theatre, on the night of April 14, 1865, that Abraham Lincoln was shot by actor John Wilkes Booth. Chaos erupted in the playhouse, and Lincoln died the next day from the gun wound in a boarding house across the street.
Ford’s Theatre is still an active playhouse, and a downstairs museum explains the events of the assassination in 1865 and exhibits artifacts from that fateful night. The historic site draws about one million annual visitors a year. It has a powerful and haunting effect on visitors because of the memory of the national tragedy that occurred there.
—Caroline Griffith
NPCA Recommends
There is no better way to feel the power of Ford’s Theatre than to see a live performance there. The annual December performance of “Christmas Carol” is highly recommended.
Visitor Feedback
Share your park story today. Post your park experiences, recommendations, or tips here.*
Post a Comment
*NPCA staff do not regularly respond to postings. We reserve the right to remove comments that include profanity, personal attacks, or are off-topic. Opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the position(s) of NPCA.
|
